Lee Johnson has revealed his most aggressive half-time team talk of the season helped inspire Bristol City to beat Sunderland.

Johnson felt his side were too soft in the first half at the Stadium of Light and told his players as much, likening the exchange at the break to a scene from the popular Mike Bassett movie.

Bobby Reid had headed the visitors in front 28 minutes in but Sunderland equalised through Lewis Grabban's close range effort on the stroke of half-time, his sixth of the season.

Johnson described Grabban's goal as a wake-up call and made sure his players were on top of their game for the second half, sub Milan Djuric's header sealing three points in the 73rd minute.

Sunderland, lacking ideas and creativity, produced a lethargic second half showing with high-flying City fully deserving of the three points.

Johnson, reflecting on City's win, said: "To be honest it was probably one of the most aggressive half-time team talks I've had to give this year.

Milan Djuric's header wins the game for Bristol City.

"I just thought we were a bit soft if I'm honest.

"We came with a game plan and the game plan was very methodical; how we're going to break down the opposition, how we're going to build up in our phases, and it sort of went out the window because of the conditions.

"We basically had to rile them up and go old-school. It was almost like Whacko from Mike Bassett, when he hits the wall. 'Let's have some, bang'.